June 6, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

More than 75 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water but only .5 percent of all the water on the planet is readily available for our use. And since water is one of our key natural resources and is essential for life, conserving this natural resource is everyone’s responsibility.

The City of Orlando has been leading the way with reclaimed water practices. Our wastewater treatment facilities produce enough reclaimed water to offset more than 35 million gallons per day to the demand on the Florida aquifer and help to protect Central Florida’s lakes, wetlands and springs. Even though this is a great step in the right direction, there are always opportunities to do more.

Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) water usage trends show Orlando water demand exceeding the supply by approximately 2014 if no action is taken. The time to act is now and the City of Orlando is working with its partners OUC and the St. John’s River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to find alternatives for our current water supply. Options that are being explored include:

• Water conservation
• Alternative water sources such as surface water and seawater
• Aquifer recharge; and
• Increased use of reclaimed water for irrigation

Water conservation will take on an increasingly important role in the City’s future water supply. The SJRWMD has asked us to adopt a water conservation ordinance in coordination with OUC and Orange County. The City will also be considering changes to the land development code regarding new landscaping requirements.

In this edition of City News you will find tips on how to conserve water in your everyday life. I cannot emphasize enough the need for everyone to work together to protect one of our most precious natural resources.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor
 

This section of City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged in their neighborhoods.

CERT Training Opportunity

The Orlando Fire Department offers Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which provides citizens the basic skills needed during an emergency. This training allows graduates to respond to the immediate need of their family and community in the aftermath of a major disaster, the time when emergency services may not be readily available. By working together, CERT members can assist in saving lives by implementing the basic techniques taught in this course.

The next CERT class will be held on three consecutive Saturdays; June 14, June 21 and June 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orlando Operations Center, 110 S. Andes Avenue. You must attend all three classes to graduate.

To learn more about CERT or to register for a class, visit http://www.cityoforlando.net/fire/Division%20of%20Public%20Relations.htm

Community Connections Workshop - Free Neighborhood Leadership Training

The City of Orlando and Orange County Government present the Community Connections Workshop: Are You Prepared for an Emergency? Are you prepared in your home, organization, congregation, business or neighborhood for natural or man-made disasters and other major threats? This workshop will provide you with the basic guidelines and procedures necessary to respond and recover faster. Create your own emergency plan and learn about local government resources available to assist neighborhoods with emergency preparedness and response.

The workshop will take place Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Orange County Regional History Center, 65 East Central Boulevard. To register for this workshop, please call Orange County Neighborhood Services at 407-836-0035 or register on line at www.ocfl.net/CommunityConnections.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week

June 1 through 7, 2008 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Each year an estimated 166,000 Americans lose their lives by sudden Cardiac Arrest. That's about 455 men, women and children a day. In a cardiac emergency, CPR and early defibrillation with an AED are critical. However, less than one-third of adult sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR. Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after a sudden cardiac arrest can double or even triple a victim's chance of survival. This week, take the opportunity to learn CPR and how to use an AED. You could save a life... and it could be someone you love!  For more information, please contact the Orlando Fire Department at 407-246-3128.

Teen Police Academy

The Orlando Police Department is looking for teens who are interested in a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. The eight-week Teen Police Academy begins on June 18, 2008 and introduces teens to the wide variety of functions performed in police work, from neighborhood patrols to tactics used in high-risk incidents. Topics covered include criminal investigations, the Homicide Unit, Crime Scene Technicians, the Gang Unit, the Drug Enforcement Division, hostage negotiations and School Resource Officers. Participants will be also assigned a mentor throughout the program. At the conclusion of the Teen Police Academy, students will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive their diplomas from Police Chief Val Demings. Applicants must be between the ages of 13 to 18 and either live or attend school within Orlando’s city limits.

For more information and registration forms, please contact Officer Tia Pruitt at 407-246-2095 or email her at Tia.Pruitt@cityoforlando.net.

Water Conservation Tips

Due to the dry season, the amount of water used to irrigate green spaces is at a record high. As a City, we must work together to avoid wasting one of our most precious natural resources. Please follow these important irrigation and water conservation guidelines:

• Water only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to minimize the amount of water lost to evaporation.
• Water just once a week in the cooler months, and twice a week in the warmer months (experts say this is enough to maintain healthy, green grass with a strong root system).
• Water for just 30-45 minutes per session (½ inch to ¾ inch of water per zone
• Turn off sprinklers when it's raining or install a rain shut-off device.
• Avoid watering on windy days.
• Make sure plants are not blocking sprinklers.
• Check your irrigation system for broken or leaky heads. Set timers so that no zone runs for more than 20 minutes.
• Irrigation systems should be zoned so plants with different water needs are irrigated separately (grass, for example, should be watered separately from shrubs and flowers).
• Drip irrigation systems (which use less water than sprinklers) are recommended for trees, shrubs and flowers.
• Use a low flow shower head. A 10-minute shower can use less water than a full bath. A new shower head also will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity.
• Stop your leaky faucet. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water. Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or $35 in natural gas. Fixing drips is a cost effective and easy way to save energy.

BLUEPRINT Job Opportunity BBQ

On Saturday, May 31, the second BLUEPRINT Job Opportunity BBQ attracted more than 200 citizens interested in working on one of the Community Venues projects. BLUEPRINT partner, Workforce Central Florida, was on hand with two of their mobile units that contained workstations enabling jobseekers to apply on line for available jobs.

The BLUEPRINT is a comprehensive approach to leveraging the Community Venues projects to create local jobs and local business growth. This process will also engage a diverse cross-section of the region to address the role economic development and social programs will play in the Community Venues.

If you’re interested in a construction job or working in one of the Community Venues Projects, Workforce Central Florida is here to help. They can be contacted at
800-757-4598 or questions@wcfla.com

Community Venues Construction Update

New Closures

• Sunday, June 8, 2008, the intersection of Church Street and Garland Avenue will be closed from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday, June 9 to accommodate Events Center underground utility work. Detour signs will be posted
   
• Effective, Monday, June 16, 6 a.m., Church Street from Hughey Avenue to Garland Avenue will be closed in both directions. Closure will remain in effect until approximately Monday, June 30, 5 p.m., to accommodate Events Center underground utility work. Detour signs will be posted.

Remaining Closures

• The on-street parking along the south side of Church Street between Division and Hughey Avenues is closed. Closure will remain until completion of the Events Center to accommodate site work and construction.
   
• On-street parking along the north side of Church Street between Division and Bryan Avenues is closed. Closure will be approximately 30 days (closure began Monday, May 19) to accommodate lane shifts related to Events Center utility relocation work.
   
• Additional parking is available in the Church Street Garage. Parking validation stickers for this garage are available for customers from Church Street Merchants located between Terry and Hughey Avenues.
  Church Street from Division Avenue to Bryan Avenue (eastbound direction only) will be closed for construction associated with underground utilities installation. The closure is expected to remain in place until approximately June 30, 2008. A detour will be posted.

Please exercise extreme caution in this area during the street closure. For more information call Walter Hawkins at 407-246-3190.
 

• The Mennello Museum of American Art has instituted free admission days in 2008. Come see what the Mennello Museum has to offer and get in free on July 4, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 28 and December 26. For more information call 407-246-4278 or email mennello.museum@cityoforlando.net.
   
• An Arts and Culture Assistance grant was awarded to Orlando Tastings, located at 111 North Magnolia Avenue in the Dynetech Centre. This wine bar, restaurant and art gallery allows customers to taste all the wines before buying. The work of international artist, Leanne Laine will be available for viewing and purchase by the public. The owners of Orlando Tastings are making a capital investment of approximately $250,000 and will be creating four new positions.
  The Arts and Culture Assistance Program (ACAP) is a matching grant program designed to encourage arts and culture-related businesses and organizations to locate, expand or redevelop with the City of Orlando.
   
• Planar Energy Devices was awarded a Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund. The Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program is a tool available through the State of Florida Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development to encourage quality job growth to targeted growth industries. This program supports the City’s efforts to diversify the Orlando economy. Planar Energy Devices is expanding its headquarter operations in Orlando and will expand its workforce by 15 employees over the next year.

Mayor in the Community

On Wednesday, June 4, Mayor Dyer worked with Orlando Fire Department personnel as they hosted an interactive, Community Emergency Response Team training class for members of the local media.

Also on Wednesday, Mayor Dyer, District 1 Commissioner Phil Diamond and Fire Chief Jim Reynolds participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Fire Station 16, the third of Orlando’s green fire stations. Fire Station 16 will service the Lake Nona neighborhoods.
 

Did You Know?

“Angels Wanted” at Animal Services

Orange County Animal Services is in need of foster parents! Last year, nearly 400 animals entered the Animal Services’ Foster Program. Fostering gives the neediest animals a chance to find permanent, loving homes and is often the only option for animals that are too young to be adopted, have special needs, or are sick or injured. Foster parents give these animals a chance to be adopted by caring for them in their homes until they are able to enter the adoption program.

A foster placement can range from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the situation. Animal Services provides assistance with basic supplies, such as food, bedding, crates and bowls, when available.

Contact Debra Villella, adoption and foster care coordinator, for more information: 407-254-9159 or visit www.ocnetpets.com/foster.

Free Educational Workshops on Foreclosure Prevention and Predatory Lending

Upcoming Events

Road Closures

City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net